Villa accommodation in Phuket for the ideal Thai break
Phuket punches above its weight in high-end properties that feature stand-alone villas within the framework of a resort.
Five-star beach resorts in Asian destinations such as Thailand and Bali have long conformed to a luxury template of space and style. But in our new and more cautious travel universe, privacy and separation are now part of the ideal equation. Another new goal for guests is a clear sense of removal from crowds in popular holiday destinations.
Phuket in southern Thailand can hardly be called a hideaway spot but it punches above its cheap beach-break reputation with properties that feature stand-alone villas within the framework of a resort, often with multiple bedrooms, butlers, dining pavilions on terraces and private pools. Amanpuri, on a headland near Pansea Beach, is a classic example, while Banyan Tree’s DoublePool Villas estate is the centrepiece star of the Laguna Phuket integrated resort enclave.
Andara Resort & Villas, on the island’s mid-west coast and about 40 minutes from the airport, lifts the hideaway bar even further with, in ascending order of tariff, terrace suites of one to three bedrooms, pool suites and penthouse pool suites up to four bedrooms. Then there are the “luxury” pool villas, from three to seven bedrooms, covering up to a massive 2300sq m. The majority of the villas are privately owned and in a letting pool managed by the resort. The 37 suites and 26 villas are perched in serried rows on a high hillside and all have broad views of Kamala Bay and the Andaman Sea across plantings of palms, frangipani and bougainvillea; staff-driven golf carts tootle to and from the main facilities at ground level and are super-quick to arrive when called by guests.
My three-bedroom pool villa has a full kitchen with all the latest gadgetry, huge TVs, ceiling fans as well as air-conditioning, and a private chef on call to prepare breakfast on the terrace by that 18m indigo-tiled infinity pool or to conduct Thai cooking classes. The decor features timber statues and carvings with Thai motifs and silk weavings in autumnal colours. There’s an open-plan tropical flow but owners have varying taste in design touches so I imagine that while furniture packages would be standard, some villas may be more idiosyncratic or personalised than others.
Dining options cover SILK, serving breakfast and featuring day-long Thai cuisine and western staples, and La Seta, specialising in pizza freshly delivered from a massive oven plus house-made pasta sprinkled with herbs grown onsite; its name, chosen with perfect synergy, is the Italian word for silk. The former has highly polished floors and tubular lanterns plus an adjoining bar where the likes of Crazy Monkey’s Favourite Tom Yum cocktails slip down easily and enjoyably around the sunset hour. SILK features all the recognisable Thai favourites and a comprehensive local seafood section, including soft shell crab. Red chilli symbols sit alongside the spiciest fare on the menu and leaf illustrations indicate which dishes can be alternatively served as vegetarian. La Seta’s focus on pizza yields 10 crisply delicious varieties and don’t miss the stand-out tagliolini rich with mussels, tiger prawns, chunks of seabass and a silky tomato sauce. The two restaurants sit side by side with indoor-outdoor dining and entertainment on selected evenings of Thai dancing and cultural shows by the enormous main pool, its horizon edge merging with the graduated blues of sea and sky beyond.
Out and about? The 4km-long Kamala Beach is about 10 minutes away on foot or a quick hop by hotel car. There’s a dedicated club area on the sand for Andara guests with a concierge, drinks service, umbrellas, towels and sunbeds plus a fully serviced motor yacht available to book for sailing excursions around scenic spots such as Phang Nga Bay and its famous limestone outcrops. Appropriately, the sleek 35m-long vessel is called Celebrity, and looks as if it could have zoomed straight out of a James Bond movie.
Back to base, and the Andara Fitness Centre features Thai kick-boxing classes and all the expected meditation, yoga and Pilates sessions, with loose white cotton pyjamas provided, plus aquarobics at that main pool, which is so lagoon-like there’s no fear of crowding. To the spa? There are eight treatment suites or the option of an in-villa therapy. But the spa is the better option, especially for an oil-free traditional massage with stretches to “unblock trapped energy (and) loosen joints and balance major muscle groups”. It all feels as serene as a temple, fragrant and hushed, and there’s a choice of vigorous scrubs and pampering facials that include application of ingredients such as jasmine rice, black sesame and frangipani.
In the know
With accommodation configurations up to seven bedrooms, the oasis-like property is ideal for families or house-parties; kitchens allow for self-catering but all the standard resort requirements and facilities are to hand. Andara’s Shining Star Service Program includes Covid-era modifications such as spacing out spa appointments to allow for thorough cleaning, extended private dining options and social distancing requirements in the fitness centre and yoga studio. The property works with globally recognised hygiene firm Ecolab to implement and adjust health and safety procedures. Staff are vaccinated and temperature-tested daily. This month, a Stay More, Save More package for suite and villa stays includes breakfasts at SILK , early check-in and late check-out, one-way airport transfers for two-night stays or return trip for stays of three nights or more. From THB6740 ($284) a night plus taxes. Must be booked direct online. Minimum two-night stay.
Jo Makito was a guest of Andara Resort & Villas.
More to the story
Since November 1, Thailand has been admitting fully vaccinated holidaymakers arriving by air from 63 low-risk countries, including Australia. Passengers must have been in their approved country of residence for at least 21 days before boarding their flight and have registered for a Thailand Pass with embedded QR code and uploaded vaccination certificate. The program, introduced as a “Sandbox” initiative earlier this year, has been broadened as Test and Go. It requires travellers to undergo a RT-PCR Covid test upon arrival and to stay at a pre-booked hotel sanctioned by the Safety and Health Administration (SHA), such as Andara Resort & Villas, which holds the highest SHA+ rating . If the result is negative, no quarantine is required and travel is permissible throughout Thailand; if a traveller tests positive, quarantine processes apply from seven to 14 days. Visitors should thoroughly check airline requirements regarding vaccinations, paperwork and on-board protocols; travel insurance with cover of $US50,000 per person is mandatory. Children under 12 are not required to be vaccinated but must be travelling with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian. Jetstar has low-cost direct flights from Melbourne and Sydney to Phuket and one-stop connections via other Australian ports.
SUSAN KUROSAWA
